The attack happened in the stairwell between the second and third floors of the McDulin Parking Garage, at the corner of Second and Market Streets.

Investigators said the victim had just gotten out of her car and was on her way home.

Officers said the victim was able to fight Patrick off and run for help. She was not injured in the attack.

"She screamed, she kicked, she called attention to herself and caused him to run away. It bought her time so she could escape," Sgt. Ed Buns said.

Patrick was registered as a sex offender with the state of Ohio. He did not provide an address and said he was homeless.

In 2013 Patrick was convicted of attempted abduction after attacking a woman in the same parking garage.

Patrick was sentenced to 18 months in prison. He served 280 days and was released in June for good behavior.

"Our job is to protect the public and it is disheartening when you see people that you put in (jail) and in some cases do no time," Buns said.

About two blocks from the parking garage, members of the community were shocked to hear the attack happened so close to RiversEdge Park and Amphitheater.

"It is absolutely terrifying because they've done a lot to revitalize the area and really bring it back and get the arts back in the community. We feel really safe and comfortable when we are here," Amy Michael said.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF THOSE TRI-STATE LEADERS ARE PLANNING TO HEAD TO MISSOURI NEXT WEEK TO TRY TO HELP. NEW INSIGHT ON A SEX CRIME AT A PARKING GARAGE. A HAMILTON WOMAN FOUGHT OFF HER ATTACKER AFTER BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. POLICE HAVE ARRESTED DAVID PATRICK. IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HE'S DONE THIS. POLICE SAY THIS ALL HAPPENED IN HAMILTON. A CITY GARAGE ON SECOND IN MARKET IS WERE HAMILTON POLICE SAY THE VICTIM WAS ATTACKED AS THEY WERE HEADING HOME. THE SUSPECT DAVID PATRICK IN THE APPROACH TO SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS. POLICE HELD HER AGAINST HER WILL, PULLED DOWN HER UNDERWEAR AND GROPED HER. SHE SCREAMED AND KICKED AND CAUSE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO HER SELF. CAUSED HIM TO RUN AWAY AND BOUGHT HER TIME SO SHE COULD ESCAPE. HE IS LISTED AS HOMELESS, A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER AND HAD PRIOR ATTACKS AT THE SAME GARAGE. PATRICK WAS CONVICTED IN 2013 FOR ATTEMPTED EDUCTION -- ABDUCTION. OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND IT IS DISHEARTENING WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT YOU PUT IN AND IN SOME CASES DO NO TIME. PEOPLE AT THE RIVERS EDGE WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT IT HAPPENED IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO REVITALIZE THE AREA AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. WE FEEL REALLY SAFE AND COMFORTABLE. PATRICK FACES EVEN MORE TIME BEHIND BARS AS A SUSPECTED REPEAT OFFENDER. PATRICK IS NO STRANGER TO THE SYSTEM. HIS RECORD INCLUDES CHARGES OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND PUBLIC INDECENCY. REPORTING FROM HAMILTON, WLWT